Broadjam Artist: RandBpro
Song: She Slipped Away
Broadjam Pro Reviewer:
Doug Diamond (Music Supervisor, Engineer, Producer, Composer )
Pro General Comments: Hi Jim -Thanks for letting me know about your song, "She Slipped Away". I've enjoyed listening to it over and over for the review. It certainly has a 1970s Folk type sound and arrangement, a-la the artists I mentioned above (Jim Croce, Cat Stevens, Paul Simon, James Taylor, Jackson Browne), so you're in good company. Again, good track.I can tell you've put a lot of work into this song and I'm sure it's given you a lot of satisfaction seeing it come to its fruition.The performances, both instrumentally and vocally are all excellent. I don't think I'd change a thing from that perspective.The arrangement as you have it is also very good. I think the strings are my favorite parts. They're done very well. Not sure if they're real or not, but the important thing is, if they're not, they sure *sound* like it. My guess is they are only because you'd have to be an incredible programmer/synthesist to get anything close to this. Nice work. So, that said, as you know, the arrangement and instruments you choose have a lot to do with the emotional value a song has - that connection to the listener - the thing that makes them want to hear it over and over... that's a combination of several things. Yes, the performances and quality of the vocal as well as the instruments an sound in general, with the melody or "hook" being the main thing the listener connects with. Based on that, if you were to create a line graph of this song's emotional value from beginning to end, in my opinion, it would mostly be a straight line not a lot of rises in emotion or the ebbs and flows I'd like to see. Ballads are tricky. They really need to be emotional to be effective. This song is emotional to a degree, but I don't think it connects fully like it should. I expected to hear a huge swell at some point near the end, with a big emotional payoff - on a bridge perhaps. Again though, the straight line. I'd like to hear/feel more of a peak about 3/4 of the way through with a real payoff coming in the chorus (or a bridge as I mentioned). Instead, it sort of stays flat-lined all the way. The vocals do a good job of creating some emotion, so don't get me wrong it is there, just not quite what I'd like to hear - or expect to hear... coming from a music pro who listens for a living.Lyrically, I think this song is extremely unique in that I don't think I've heard many songs about parents' empty nest-type situations. That said, I think the third verse is a little bit confusing... it sounds like the girl has died, when in fact, she's just left her home with her parents to find her way in the world - something we all do. The parents act like their lives are over because the girl's left. While this may be the case for some parents, it does not portray a health relationship, you know? I think it casts the singer/artist in a negative light in certain respects. Just something to think about... to me the song should showcase how the girl is going to be happy making her own way in the world instead of how sad the parents are like they're distraught. When in fact, it's a new chapter for *them* too. Does that make sense? I think the premise needs to be tweaked in that regard.
Quote From Pro: "She Slipped Away" is an excellent song about a girl leaving her home, heading out in the world to make her own path. Very unique concept. Great performances and arrangements. This song could fit in the exact, right sync situation.